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Question: What does a typical schedule
evaluation and change project look like?
Each project is customized to meet the needs of the
client. You can see several examples of how we customize our process by clicking
here.
Question: Can you just mail me a new schedule?
Sure, but unless we follow our proven process, it is likely to be the wrong
one. Schedule design is the simplest part of improving your shiftwork operations.
The real question should be "Can you send me the best solution for my site
and guarantee the workforce will support it?" The answer to this one is
no. Finding the right solution, from everyone's perspective, requires a
lot of time and effort (see our change
model).
Question: Why can't I just copy a schedule from
a nearby facility that is operating the same number of hours we need to run?
If you do this, chances are that any solution you simply copy from another
site will not meet all of your needs or your
employee needs. The best shiftwork solutions are tailored for each organization.
Your shiftwork operation has unique staffing levels, maintenance issues,
demand seasonality, growth/consolidation requirements, etc. Copying a solution
from a nearby plant will not address these issues.
Question: We have a union at our site. Can we still
improve our shiftwork operations?
Yes, but this is a complicated issue. Union contract or not, the best solutions
are the ones that fit the needs of the workforce as well as those of the
company. Without the workers' support, you will spend your career fighting
with scheduling issues. If the union and management agree that a better
schedule lies outside of what the contract allows, we help to write a timed
addendum. This addendum must obviously meet with everyone's approval and
allows for a schedule to be implemented outside of the current contract
for a specified period of time and with a very specific set of pay and work
rules. This allows the schedule to be tested on a trial basis before it
is incorporated into the contract.
Question: How much do your services cost?
Much of our work is done on a project basis at an agreed-on fixed cost.
We have found that the majority of these projects result in operational
savings and profit making opportunities that recover the project costs in
six months or less. On an annual basis, this results in an improved bottom
line for your company.
Because the opportunities are real, we are also comfortable offering our
services on a "pay for performance" basis. These types of projects are usually
structured so that our compensation is directly linked to the value of the
opportunities that your company can actually realize.
We work with every size organization, and have helped them solve problems
that ranged in difficulty from very complex to fairly straightforward. Our
services are customized to meet the needs of each individual client. As
a result, we do not have a standard list of services and fees.
For more details on how we can help you find the right shiftwork solution
while meeting your financial requirements, call us today or fill out our
contact form.
Question: What shift schedule is the most popular?
The answer to this question is simple. The most popular shift schedules
are the schedules that are understood and supported by the workforce, and
that meet the business requirements of the organization. Schedules that
fail to meet the business requirements usually fail and get replaced. Schedules
that are implemented without shiftworker input are hard for the workforce
to accept.
Question: Ok, what is the most popular shift length?
When shiftworkers are asked to focus on shift length and it's effect on
time-off alone, most shiftworkers prefer 10-hour shifts over either 8-hour
or 12-hour shifts. Unfortunately, many shift work operations cannot use
10-hour shifts well because a 10-hour shift does not divide well into a
24-hour day. If level coverage is needed all 24 hours in the day, it is
very difficult to get that coverage with a 10-hour shift schedule. For more
information on this subject, see: 10-hour
shifts, Shift-length
Issues, and Shift-Schedules.
Question: How can I get more information about Shiftwork
Solutions LLC?
Call us today. (415) 472-3688. Or click here
to fill out our contact form.
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